- A
Protecting the physical servers in the Azure datacenter with video surveillance and access controls.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because physical security of datacenters, including surveillance and access controls, is the responsibility of Microsoft as the cloud provider.
- B
Configuring the network security group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic to the virtual machine.
This is correct because configuring NSG rules is part of managing the network security for resources within the customer's Azure subscription. Under the shared responsibility model, the customer controls access to their virtual machines.
- C
Ensuring the hypervisor that isolates virtual machines is free from vulnerabilities.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the hypervisor is part of the Azure host infrastructure; Microsoft is responsible for its security and patching.
- D
Maintaining the security of the Azure Fabric Controller that manages the host servers.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the fabric controller is a core Azure component managed and secured by Microsoft. Customers have no access to it and no responsibility for its security.
Quick Answer
Configuring the network security group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic to the virtual machine is the correct choice because, under the shared responsibility model, the customer retains full control over security configurations within the virtual network and at the VM level. While Azure secures the physical host and hypervisor, the customer must define allow/deny rules for protocols like TCP/UDP on specific ports to protect their application traffic. This question tests your understanding of the shared responsibility model customer responsibilities in IaaS, a core concept on the AZ-900 exam that often appears as a scenario-based question. A common trap is assuming Azure handles all network security, but in IaaS, the customer is solely responsible for access controls like NSG rules. Memory tip: In IaaS, you manage the “inside” of the VM and its network perimeter—think “IaaS = I am responsible for the Access rules.”
AZ-900 Describe cloud concepts Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe cloud concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company deploys a line-of-business application on an Azure virtual machine. The IT team wants to ensure the application remains secure. According to the shared responsibility model, which of the following security tasks is the sole responsibility of the customer (the company)?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Configuring the network security group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic to the virtual machine.
Option B is correct because configuring Network Security Group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic is a customer responsibility under the shared responsibility model. The customer controls the virtual network and VM-level access, including defining allow/deny rules for protocols like TCP/UDP on specific ports. Azure manages the underlying infrastructure, but the customer must secure their own application traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Protecting the physical servers in the Azure datacenter with video surveillance and access controls.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because physical security of datacenters, including surveillance and access controls, is the responsibility of Microsoft as the cloud provider.
- ✓
Configuring the network security group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic to the virtual machine.
Why this is correct
This is correct because configuring NSG rules is part of managing the network security for resources within the customer's Azure subscription. Under the shared responsibility model, the customer controls access to their virtual machines.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ensuring the hypervisor that isolates virtual machines is free from vulnerabilities.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the hypervisor is part of the Azure host infrastructure; Microsoft is responsible for its security and patching.
- ✗
Maintaining the security of the Azure Fabric Controller that manages the host servers.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the fabric controller is a core Azure component managed and secured by Microsoft. Customers have no access to it and no responsibility for its security.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'security of the cloud' (physical and hypervisor security, which Azure handles) with 'security in the cloud' (customer-managed configurations like NSGs), leading them to incorrectly assign physical or hypervisor security to the customer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NSGs are stateful firewall rules applied at the subnet or network interface level, filtering traffic based on source/destination IP, port, and protocol (e.g., TCP 3389 for RDP). Under the hood, NSG rules are evaluated in priority order (lowest number first) and support default deny inbound/allow outbound rules. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured NSG allowing unrestricted inbound traffic (e.g., 0.0.0.0/0 on port 22) could expose the VM to brute-force SSH attacks, emphasizing the customer's sole duty to harden access.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-900 question test?
Describe cloud concepts — This question tests Describe cloud concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configuring the network security group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic to the virtual machine. — Option B is correct because configuring Network Security Group (NSG) rules to restrict inbound traffic is a customer responsibility under the shared responsibility model. The customer controls the virtual network and VM-level access, including defining allow/deny rules for protocols like TCP/UDP on specific ports. Azure manages the underlying infrastructure, but the customer must secure their own application traffic.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on AZ-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company plans to migrate a line-of-business application to Azure virtual machines (IaaS). The company's security team is reviewing the shared responsibility model to determine which security tasks are handled by Microsoft. Which of the following security responsibilities belongs to Microsoft?
medium- A.Configuring operating system firewalls on the virtual machines
- B.Patching the guest operating system of the virtual machines
- ✓ C.Maintaining physical security of the datacenter where the servers are hosted
- D.Managing application-level user authentication and authorization
Why C: Under the shared responsibility model for IaaS, Microsoft is responsible for the physical security of its datacenters, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental safeguards. This is a foundational layer that customers cannot manage, making option C correct.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-900 exam.
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